Nn Company Wins Bid To Build Post Office

July 01, 1989

WILLIAMSBURG — The U.S. Postal Service awarded a $2.1 million contract Friday to Hudgins Construction Co. Inc. of Newport News for construction of a new post office here.

Hudgins Construction's bid was the lowest of 11 for the contract, according to Postal Service spokesman Deborah Yackley. She said the highest bid was for $4 million. Construction is expected to begin immediately and should be completed by January.

The 30,000-square-foot building, to be built at Lafayette and South Henry streets, will be about 50 percent larger than the existing post office at Merchants Square, Yackley said.

Officials said a new building is needed to accommodate the increased volume of mail. Since 1987, mail volume has jumped about 30 percent, from 144,646 letters a day to 188,169 letters daily, according to Williamsburg postmaster Gary Farmer.

Service has increased from 29 mail routes two years ago to 41 routes this year, with the staff nearly doubling during that time. Farmer said he expects deliveries to double over the next decade.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, which owns the existing post office building, has said it will convert the structure into retail shops when the Postal Service moves out.

Farmer said the Postal Service paid about $50,460 a year to Colonial Williams burg in rent. The service will own its new building on Lafayette Street.

The Postal Service will pay Colonial Williamsburg $750,000 for a 55-year lease on the 2.3-acre parcel.